Hi, I’m Laila Ali, a second-year Political Science major running for re-election to the Undergraduate Senate — on behalf of students who deserve a safer, more inclusive, and more transparent Stanford.
This past year, on the Senate I turned advocacy into action — authoring legislation, organizing student forums, and working directly with administrators to ensure students are not just heard, but represented.
Read more to learn what I’ve done…
PROTECTED STUDENTS RIGHTS
- Authored a Joint Resolution to Declare Stanford a Sanctuary Campus, advocating for undocumented, DACA, and mixed-status students.
- Authored legislation for permanent on-campus voting booths, expanding accessible in-person voting.
- Sponsored legislation to reinstate the Zapata RA and address staffing vacancies, protecting cultural housing.
- Sponsored legislation restoring student speakers at departmental commencements.
WORKED TO ENSURE STUDENTS ARE AT THE TABLE
- Met with financial leadership to push for budget transparency amid major institutional changes- ensuring the big 3 events are occurring in Spring: Crochella, Day N’ Mayfield & Dragfest.
- Advocated for Caltrain Go Pass access through Stanford Transportation, working for students have access by next fall.
- Joined the Stanford Next Advisory Board to represent student voices in long-term campus planning.
- Organized a Winter Week 9 TOWN HALL and weekly Senator Coffee Chats as Political Action Co-Chair, to hear student voices on key issues !! Ensuring student voices are heard on issues from free speech, to university changes this year.
STRENGTHENED CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
- Partnered with NSO to launch a Democracy Event and Voter Education Video for first-year students.
- Worked to institutionalize on-campus voting access for future elections.
- Served on the Free Speech Working Group, advocating for amplified sound access, pushing for a Student Affiliates program, and clarifying protest & free speech policies so students can organize freely.
My Work Is Not Done.
I’m running for re-election to continue protecting student rights, expanding civic access, defending community spaces, and ensuring every student has real representation. I’m running on behalf of you, the students, to ensure your voices are heard.
Keep reading to learn what I will do in my next term…
1. PROTECT STUDENTS
- Continue urging admin to declare Stanford a sanctuary campus from ICE agents, like our peer institutions
- Work with DHS to ensure ID access only for academic buildings to ensure safety on campus
2. FREE SPEECH & EXPRESSION
- Expand amplified noise in White Plaza beyond 12–1 to 9–5
- Increase transparency of free speech rules on the site
- Improve accessibility to these free speech areas for all students
- Continue hosting Town Halls & Coffee Chats to hear student input
3. VOTING RIGHTS & EDUCATION
- Ensure voting booths on campus for every election
- Make our democracy event & voter education to NSO come to fruition
- Ensure civic engagement on campus
4. COALITION BUILDING
- Build a student coalition with leaders from VSOs & community centers
- Help organize this student coalition & activism on campus to unify student activists & align on issues
5. PROTECT DEI INITIATIVES
- Protect community centers & cultural housing
- Fight for DEI initiatives to continue being funded & supported
I’m running to continue turning advocacy into action and ensuring students are not just heard, but represented.
For more information about me and exactly how I will implement these initiatives, please visit my full platform here:
